Jonesville ceremony will honor soldiers

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By Andy Barrand

Hillsdale.net - Hillsdale, MI

By Andy Barrand

Posted Dec. 14, 2012 at 8:45 AM

By Andy Barrand
Posted Dec. 14, 2012 at 8:45 AM

Hillsdale, Mich.

andy.barrand@hillsdale.net

JONESVILLE — It’s the holiday season and members of Jonesville American Legion Post No. 195 are doing their part to remember those who have served and are serving in the armed forces. The legion will be conducting a ceremony at noon Saturday at the Freedom Memorial at Sunset Cemetery as part of the national Wreaths Across America Day. This is the first year that members of the legion have held the ceremony said Bob Snow, legion commander. “This is a day of remembering the fallen and those who are serving,” Snow said. “The ceremony will be a short one, but one that is meaningful.” Ceremonial wreaths in remembrance of soldiers from each branch of the military, a POW/MIA wreath and 25 additional wreaths will be placed around the memorial. The ceremony is one of 750 that will be conducted across the country Saturday. Snow said he first learned about the program after stopping in the village office a couple of weeks ago. Village Clerk Betsy Brooks had asked him how many military graves were in the cemetery. He quickly answered 470, because the legion cataloged all of the grave sites last year. “She said, wouldn’t it be nice if we could place a wreath on every grave,” Snow said. Snow and Brooks found out about the program after visiting the Arlington Memorial Cemetery website. Snow said it was a humbling and beautiful experience when he visited Arlington during the holiday season because a wreath is placed on each grave. The project was spearheaded by Mark Monahan, vice president of Eagle Funeral Homes. The funeral home sponsored the 32 wreaths which will be placed around the memorial. Snow said he picked the wreaths up Thursday morning. “They are beautiful wreaths,” Snow said. “We encourage everyone to come out to the ceremony.” Wreaths Across America started 20 years ago when Worcester Wreath Company from Harrington, Maine initiated a tradition of donating and placing wreaths on the headstones of the nation’s fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. In 2011 the company donated 30,000 wreaths, over 400,000 were sponsored by individuals, businesses and other groups.

Wreaths will be placed in all 50 states and 24 national cemeteries on foreign soil. Snow is hoping the ceremony can be an annual tradition in the village.